Êxodo 10
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Êxodo 10
The Plague of Locusts The Eighth Plague: Locusts Eighth Plague: Locusts Locusts The Eighth Plague: The Locusts 10:1-2 10:1-2 10:1-2 10:1-2 10:1-7 10:3-11 10:3-11 10:3-6 10:3-6 10:7-11 10:7 10:8 10:8-11 10:9 10:10-11 10:12-20 10:12-15 10:12-20 10:12-15 10:12-13 10:14-15 10:16-20 10:16-20 10:16-20 Darkness Over the Land The Ninth Plague: Darkness Ninth Plague: Dense Darkness Darkness The Ninth Plague: The Darkness 10:21-29 10:21-23 10:21-29 10:21-23 10:21-23 10:24-26 10:24-26 10:24 10:25-26 10:27-29 10:27-28 10:27-29 10:29
Êxodo 10:1-2
10:1 Exodus 10:1 is theologically parallel to Exod. 9:14-16. YHWH uses Pharaoh's tendencies and stubbornness to reveal Himself! 10:2 F. B. Huey, A Study Guide Commentary, Exodus (p. 48), makes a good observation. "Previously God had said that the plagues were brought on Egypt so that the Egyptians would know that He was Lord (7:5), but now He says that the purpose of the plagues is so that the Israelites may know that He is Lord (10:2)." The term "signs" (BDB 68) is used to demonstrate YHWH's power and reveal His character to Pharaoh ‒ Exod. 7:3,17 to Israel ‒ Exod. 10:2; 31:13; Deut. 4:35 to Jews who fled to Egypt ‒ Jer. 44:29 to future Bible readers ‒ 1 Cor. 10:6,11 ▣ "that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians" This emphasis on the parental, religious training of the children (cf. Exod. 12:26-27; 13:8,14- 15) is expanded in the book of Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 4:9; 6:7,20-25; 32:7,46). Parents are to be the major instrument in the theological training of their children. Notice the basic thrust of this training is "that you may know that I am the Lord" (cf. Exod. 5:2; 7:5,17; 8:19; 10:2,7). The purpose of the plagues was the worldwide revelation (cf. Exod. 9:14) of YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Êxodo 10:3-11
10:3 "the Lord, the God of the Hebrews" See notes at Exod. 1:15 and 9:1. ▣ "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?" This is a good question. Even the servants of Pharaoh acknowledged the need (cf. Exod. 10:7). Pharaoh's exalted heart was referred to earlier in Exod. 9:17. 10:4 "locusts" Like the hail, frogs, and gnats, these locusts are common to the land of Egypt, but the timing, intensity, and geographical selectivity show the supernatural element. Also notice that they (i.e., locusts, BDB 916) are brought in by an east wind and removed by a west wind. This shows that God uses natural means to perform His signs, as He will again at the crossing of the Red Sea, where He uses a strong east wind (cf. Exod. 14:20) to separate the water and dry out the bottom of the sea. 10:5 "They will also eat the rest of what has escaped—what is left to you from the hail" This was mentioned in Exod. 10:12,15. The crop that remained was mentioned in Exod. 9:31-32. With this plague nothing green, no crop, no fruit, nothing green would be left. Now Egypt has lost almost all cattle, herds, and food crops! The seriousness of the situation is seen in Pharaoh's words at the conclusion of Exod. 10:17. ▣ "the surface of the land" This is literally "the eye of the land" (BDB 744, cf. Exod. 10:15; Num. 22:5,11). Every language has these types of idioms which communicate to native speakers but sound strange to outsiders. 10:6 The emphasis on the severity of the locust plague is highlighted here, as the hail was in Exod. 9:18,23. Again, several Egyptian deities were supposed to protect Egypt but they could not! 10:7 One wonders who these "servants" are. the magicians (cf. Exod. 8:19) the court servants whose hearts were previously hardened (cf. Exod. 9:34) the court servants who took YHWH' warning seriously and sheltered some domestic animals (cf. Exod. 9:20-21) Pharaoh's hard heart has passed beyond all logic and counsel. The test of wills continues! Notice these counselors suggest that only "the men" shall go and sacrifice (cf. Exod. 10:8-9). This reflects the Oriental bargaining. See full note at Exod. 8:8. 10:8-11 This is Oriental bargaining. Please see the notes at Exod. 8:8. 10:10 "Thus may the Lord be with you, if ever I" This is a sarcastic oath in the mouth of Pharaoh that he will later have to swallow himself. ▣ "for evil is in your mind" "for evil is ahead of you" "Plainly, you have some evil purpose in mind" "it is clear that you are plotting to revolt" "Plainly, you are up to no good" "Clearly, you are bent on mischief" "You have some sinister purpose in mind" "wickedness lies before you" "perhaps you have an evil intent" The question is, "who is going to do the evil"? Pharaoh (Cassuto, "do not push me too far") Moses Each choice fits the context. Most English translations follow #2. 10:11 "Not so" This (BDB 518 plus BDB 485) is emphatic! I will not let all of you and your herds leave. ▣ "So they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence" This same VERB (DB 176, KB 204, Piel IMPERFECT with waw) is used in YHWH's prediction in Exod. 6:1 that Pharaoh will drive the Hebrews out of Egypt and again in Exod. 11:1 (the Hiphil in Exod. 12:39).
Êxodo 10:12-20
10:13 "an east wind" Notice the natural means YHWH used with supernatural timing. east wind, Exod. 10:13 (twice) west wind, Exod. 10:19 the plague of darkness in Exod. 10:21-23 may have been a sandstorm brought by desert winds strong east wind divides and riles up the waters and dries the Red Sea bed in Exod. 14:21; the wind apparently ceases in Exod. 14:26 (cf. Exod. 15:10) a wind brought quail to Israel in the wilderness in Num. 11:31 The "east wind" (i.e., hot desert wind) is often used by God in judgment (cf. Ps. 48:7; Isa. 27:8; Jer. 18:17; Ezek. 17:10; 19:12; 27:26; Hos. 13:15; Jon. 4:8). For other uses of ruah ("spirit," BDB 924) see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE. 10:14-15 These verses describe the intensity of this locust plague. There are many words in Hebrew for locusts (NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 491), which show they were common in the lives of ANE people. 10:14 "numerous" "severe" NRSV, REB "dense" "large" NJB, LXX "great" "thick" "it was a great swarm" This is a connotation of the term kabod (BDB 458), "glory"; see SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (OT) used of the plague on livestock in Exod. 9:3 used of the plague of hail in Exod. 9:18,24 used here of the plague of locusts The plagues were not just naturally occurring events/things but they had supernatural aspects. intensity locality timing of when they came and when they ceased 10:15 NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "land was darkened" NRSV, REB "land was black" "land was devastated" LXX, Vulgate "land was ruined" The MT has "darkened" (BDB 364, KB 361, The Analytical Key to the OT, by John Owens, calls it a Hophal but OT Parsing Guide, by Beall, Banks, and Smith, calls it IMPERFECT). The UBS Text Project gives this a "B" rating (i.e., some doubt). The LXX and NJB are an emendation. darkened, ותחשך ruined, ותשחת The NOUN "darkness" (BDB 365) occurs in Exod. 10:21,22. However, "ruined" fits this context also. The locusts were so numerous that they not only cut off the light of the sun (affront to Ra) but they completely destroyed the land. The concept of a "ruined" Egypt is in Exod. 10:7, but uses a different word (BDB 1). 10:16 This reversal links to Exod. 9:27. It seems Pharaoh's vacillation from reality to pride is like a yo-yo! What terrible swings this leader experienced, both from his own pride and arrogance, but also from the hand of God. This is the first time Pharaoh acknowledges his sin against Moses. One wonders if this refers to the previous reversals of his statements about letting the Hebrews depart something from their childhood at court 10:17 "please forgive my sin only this once" This must be idiomatic. Pharaoh asked forgiveness in Exod. 9:27-28. Exactly what this phrase implies is uncertain. Pharaoh surely will not yet let the Hebrews leave. ▣ "that He would only remove this death from me" This must refer to the devastating locust plague that destroyed all of Egypt's spring crops. The cattle and herds were mostly dead already (cf. Exod. 9:19,21). 10:19 "So the Lord shifted the wind" This manipulation of the forces of nature is also highlighted in the book of Jonah. a fish a plant a worm a wind Jesus also demonstrated this power several times (i.e., the wind and waves of the Sea of Galilee)! ▣ "west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea" The "Red Sea" literally means yam suph, which should be translated "sea of reeds." This can refer to salt water or fresh water reeds. It is obvious in this account that it was a large body of water into which the locusts were driven. There have been several theories about the location of this body of water: a northern theory along the marshes of the Mediterranean the central theory of the bitter salt lakes around the middle of the land body which is now part of the Suez Canal the upper end of the body of water known as the Red Sea today SPECIAL TOPIC: THE RED SEA SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS ▣ "not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt" This is the exact opposite of the intense nature of the locust plague. YHWH is in complete control! 10:20 This is amazing! Pharaoh is trapped by his own sin (cf. Rom. 1:24,26,28) and by YHWH's purposes (cf. Isa. 45:5-7; Amos 3:6).
Êxodo 10:21-29
10:21 "even a darkness which may be felt" Many assume that this may have been a type of sandstorm, which was common (March ‒ May) in Egypt, but again with supernatural timing, intensity (i.e., "thick darkness. . .," Exod. 10:22), and location (cf. Exod. 10:23). It is ironical that Ra, the sun god, one of the chief deities of Egypt, could not keep the land illuminated in the midst of the darkness that YHWH sent. Egypt was dark, like the earth in Gen. 1:2. 10:22 "thick darkness" This is a combination of two Hebrew terms for "darkness" (BDB 365, BDB 66). Darkness and locust are linked in Joel 2:2. Both terms are used in Isa. 8:22 and Zeph. 1:15. ▣ "for three days" This gives us the clue that possibly three days was an idiom for a longer period of time (cf. Exod. 8:28). ▣ "but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings" Again, a distinction is made between Egypt and Israel (cf. Exod. 8:22; 9:4,6,24; 10:23; 11:7). See full note at Exod. 8:22. 10:24 "only let your flocks and herds be detained" Here again, Pharaoh is trying to bargain in order to save face with his own people. Also, because all of the Egyptian cattle had been killed it would have been a great boon for them to retain the flocks and herds of the land of Goshen. But Moses would have none of this compromise. See full note on the Oriental bargain aspect at Exod. 8:8. 10:26 "for we shall take some of them to serve the Lord our God" Moses is referring to sacrifice. He does not know how many animals or which kind will be needed. 10:29 NASB, TEV, REB "You are right" NKJV, Peshitta "You have spoken well" "Just as you say!" "You yourself have said it" "You have spoken rightly" "You have spoken" Pharaoh's commands (i.e., "Get away from me!" and "Beware," Exod. 10:28) are to be heeded. Pharaoh will not/cannot chance it. Dialogue and demonstrations are futile. The last terrible plague will come and Pharaoh will send a message to Moses and Aaron after all (cf. Exod. 12:31), even his threat is powerless! The Egyptian people will urge the Hebrews to leave (cf. Exod. 12:33).